Great Musical Theology

What a way to learn great theology. That's what comes to mind whenever I sing [an old hymn like] "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." [It] is a melodic lesson in grace. No wonder good hymns make for strong faith.” (Joni Eareckson Tada)

In 1740, Robert Robinson’s father (Michael, a customs officer) died. Robert was five at the time.  His godly widowed mother (Mary Wilkin Robinson) was left financially destitute in eighteenth century England. There was little in the way of a social welfare system. Mary’s ambition for son was to see him become a clergyman in the Church of England. (Their poverty prevented that.)

 Without a father to guide and steady him, Robert fell in with bad companions. At the age of fifteen (in 1750), he was apprenticed to a barber and hair-dresser in London. Robert lived a wild and reckless existence.

 One day his gang of rowdies harassed a drunken gypsy. Pouring liquor into her, they demanded she tell their fortunes for free. Pointing her finger at Robert, she told him he would live to see his children and grandchildren.

This struck a tender spot in his heart. "If I'm going to live to see my children and grandchildren," he thought, "I'll have to change my way of living. I can't keep on like I'm going now."

Robert decided to go hear the Methodist preacher George Whitefield. To cover his feeble desire, he suggested that the boys go with him and heckle the congregation at the gathering.

The stern words of John the Baptist to the Jewish leaders of his day were in Matthew 3:7 (MSG), “Brood of snakes, what do you think you’re doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snake skins is going to make any difference? It’s your life that must change, not your skin.” The message convicted the wayward young man, and he put his faith in Christ that night.

At the age of twenty-two (in 1757), Robert wrote a hymn, which expressed the joy of his confidence in God’s divine grace (“Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”).[i] In the later years, Robert served as a pastor in several churches. Eventually, he drifted away from the Almighty again.

In a spiritually backslidden condition, the author was traveling in a stage coach one day. His only companion was a young woman unknown to him. In the providence of God (and not realizing who it was she spoke with), the woman quoted from his hymn saying what an encouragement it had been to her. Try as he might, Robert could not get her to change the subject.

With tears in his eyes, he said “Madam, I am the poor unhappy man who composed that hymn (many years ago). And I would give a thousand worlds (if I had them) to enjoy the feelings I then had.”

Gently, she replied, “Sir, the ‘streams of mercy’ are still flowing.” He was deeply touched by that. As a result of the encounter, he repented. His fellowship with the Lord was restored through the ministry of his own hymn, and a Christian’s willing witness… With a grateful heart and full life, eventually Robert Robinson went home to be with his Creator on June 9, 1790 (at the age of fifty-five).

His hymn, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” is as applicable now as it was when it was originally conceived.[ii] Let’s explore the true meaning of this great hymn, line by line:

 Come, thou fount of every blessing -This line compares God to a fountain that is continually pouring forth blessings and goodness. 

Tune my heart to sing thy praise - This line shows a willing heart to worship God, but admits fallen humanity.

Streams of mercy, never ceasing - In this water analogy, streams seem unending? The gallons of water that keep rushing by are a fitting analogy for God's mercy, which is not getting what you deserve.

Call for songs of loudest praise - God's mercy merits the maximum amount of praise because of its greatness.

Teach me some melodious sonnet - This line shows again that I am a sinner that is unable to glorify God as He deserves.

 

Sung by flaming tongues above - This line says that I want to be as good at worshiping as the very ones who are in God's presence.

 Praise the mount; I'm fixed upon it - There is a comparison of God's love to a mountain (unchangeable, and stable). This line reiterates that God's love is immovable, and that I am an object of His love. This line also shows that God's love is not dependent on anything that we do.

 

Mount of thy redeeming love - It is necessary for Christians to not only address God directly, but also to affirm their worship to others.

Here I raise my Ebenezer - An Ebenezer is a monumental stone set up to signify the divine assistance that God granted the one raising the stone.

This line is taken from 1 Samuel 7:12 (MEV): Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen. And he called its name Ebenezer saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

Hither by Thy help I've come - They can be taken to remind how God guides us through all the walks of life.

And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home- Until our travels end safe and secure with Him. This also reiterates that I am one of the ones, who is saved.

Jesus sought me when a stranger - This line not only admits that we are fallen and wandering from God, but it also reminds us of how Christ pursued us in the midst of our sin.

Wandering from the fold of God - This line modifies what I was doing as a stranger: being outside of the blessings of God.

He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood – Interpose can mean to intervene between parties. In taking our punishment, Christ intervenes on our behalf to God the Father.

To grace how great a debtor - This is one of my favorite lines. It reminds me how much I have sinned, and how really in debt I am to God's grace. 

Daily I'm constrained to be - Not only am I greatly indebted to God's grace, but I am literally indebted every single day of my life. Therefore I should be constantly thanking and praising God for it. 

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter -This line (and the next) asks God to literally chain me to Him through His goodness. Not only does this line again reiterate God's goodness, but through it I request God to make it so that I can never leave Him. 

Bind my wandering heart to Thee - What I get out of this line is that I admit that I am a wandering sinner, but I still want to be with God (and that I love Him). 

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it -I'm a wrongdoer; it's true.

Prone to leave the God I love - I still love my Lord.

Here's my heart, o take and seal it - will never be apart. 
If you seal something, it's thoroughly protected from things that would make it go bad or things that would do it harm. By being asked to be sealed I ask God for protection from without and from within. 

Seal it for Thy courts above -Keep me protected until I am in Your courts with You, and declare me to be Yours until then as well.

“I grew up going to a real small missionary Baptist church. We would sing a lot of the old standards... the hymns and everything. Those songs are still my favorite and are pretty timeless. (Josh Turner)

It isn't about singing a particular hymn, or reciting a prayer. It's about a relationship with your Heavenly Father, who loves and cares for you.” (Brian Houston)

Robert Robnson

 

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[i] "Come Thou Fount (I Will Sing)" Chris Tomlin’s remake of this classic hymn (2016)

Come Thou fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it
Mount of Thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer
Hither by Thy help I come
And I hope by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood

How Your kindness yet pursues me
How Your mercy never fails me
Till the day that death shall loose me
I will sing, oh I will sing
Turnaround

Oh to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let Thy goodness like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart Lord, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

How Your kindness yet pursues me
How Your mercy never fails me
Till the day that death shall loose me
I will sing, oh I will sing
How Your kindness yet pursues me
How Your mercy never fails me
Till the day that death shall loose me
I will sing, oh I will sing
Till the day that death shall loose me
I will sing, oh I will sing

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart Lord, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
Here's my heart Lord, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

 [ii] This post was adapted from: Wikepedia, “D.C Salmon’s The Pen of The Muses: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing Analysis” by Rigor Vitae, “Did Robert Robinson Wander as He Feared?” by Dan Graves (MSL) “Wordwise Hymns” by Robert Cottrill, and “Biography of Robert Robinson, 1735-1790”(Spiritual Songsters) www.stempublishing.com